News

The Halstead City Council approved a new round of grant applications totaling $20,000 at the most recent city council meeting. The city provides grants to new and existing businesses in the downtown area who are looking to repair or update their businesses. There were two applicants for this round of applications: Making Memories China Rental and Metal Transformations. Source: Harvey County Now

Job-seekers interested in public service careers can connect directly with City of Wichita departments during an upcoming career fair on Tuesday, June 3. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet representatives from various departments, including CityArts, Fire, IT, Law, Police, and others. Source: KSN-TV

Facing a need for more school bus drivers, Haysville Public Schools is hosting a two-day recruitment event this week to help fill key transportation roles for the upcoming school year. The event, titled "Be the Next Driver" will be held in the east parking lot of Campus High School, 2100 W. 55th Street S., on Wednesday, May 28, from 8 a.m. to noon and Thursday, May 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Source: KSN-TV

Arkansas City is rolling out new welcome signs. A ribbon cutting on June 5 will celebrate the completion of four new “Welcome to Arkansas City” signs—each featuring the city’s new logo, a design rooted in local history, water, and community pride. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the south entrance off U.S. Highway 77 on 61st Road, where the first sign was installed. Additional signs have been placed at the city’s north and east approaches, with the new branding also featured on the West Madison Bridge. Source: KSN-TV

The recent rain in Kansas has helped Cheney Lake rise and gain half a foot of water. According to the latest data from the National Water Prediction Service, that lake is at 1,414.25 feet as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. At the beginning of the month, the lake was at 1413.7 feet. The lake is still measuring at 7.35 feet below normal. Jansen Roberson, a Cheney State Park ranger, said attendance was down this Memorial Day weekend due to weather and lake levels. Source: KSN-TV

While some Kansas cities like Grinnell and Plevna are recovering from recent devastating tornadoes, others are reflecting. The Udall Historical Museum held a remembrance event for the 70th anniversary of the tornado that nearly leveled the town. On May 25, 1955, Udall was blindsided by a tornado, taking over 80 lives. The newest addition to the museum is a room dedicated to reconstructing the destruction. Source: KSN-TV

Wichita teachers, support staff, and school security workers will see pay raises next school year under new agreements reached with the Wichita Board of Education. The deals, which cover the 2025-2026 school year, include a 3% pay increase for teachers, classified staff (such as custodians, food service workers, and paraprofessionals), and safety personnel. Security workers will also receive an extra 1% "catch-up" raise. Health insurance coverage and premiums will remain unchanged across all employee groups. Source: KSN-TV

Wichita's skyline is about to get an addition with the lighting of the Century II spire. It has been nearly 10 years since the last time the community saw it with lights. The lighting will happen on Sunday, June 1, during the Riverfest's "I Choose Wichita" evening events. “Lighting the Century II spire after nearly a decade is a powerful symbol of unity and celebration,"; BreAnna Monk, Wichita Festivals president and CEO, said in a news release. "It’s an honor to mark the moment at Family Movie Night — a bright reminder of Wichita’s spirit." Source: KSN-TV

The Topeka Lodging Association is sounding the alarm on tourism in the capital city. They say a big part of that is due to Hotel Topeka and the closure of Heartland Park Racetrack. Topeka's tourism taxes is $50,000 off track for 2025, 15% less than expected. They say most of the shortfall comes from Hotel Topeka, which the city purchased next to the Stormont Vail Event Center. Source: KSNT 27 News

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, the city of Winfield has launched a new online interactive cemetery map that officials call “a powerful tool designed to provide residents, genealogists, and visitors with easy access to burial information from the comfort of their homes.” The digital map is now live and available to the public through the City’s website. Users can search for loved ones, locate burial plots, and view cemetery layouts with enhanced clarity and convenience. Source: Local – Cowley Post